Chapter 2: Welcome Home

In an undisclosed location five men sat berating another.

"So Ikari…don't you agree that NERV and the EVAs could be used a little more efficiently?" asked an aged man wearing some type of strange visor. "First Unit-00 and now you've wrecked Unit-01. Do you know how much the repair bills alone will cost?"

Another man butted into the conversation not giving Gendo the chance to answer. "Your primary obligation shouldn't be forgotten while your damn pet projects bankrupt us." The man smirked. "While the swift obliteration of the mutant race is a high priority you can't forget about the Human Instrumentality Project."

"Yes the Human Instrumentality Project," the visor wearing old man repeated. "Above all others this represents our greatest hope in these desperate times."

"I understand." Gendo huffed out a bit bored. He just couldn't stand the old men's droning on about humanity for much longer.

"In any case…I will not sanction any delay in the I.P schedule that is attributed to the second coming of the Angels. So with that I will consider you budget request."

Gendo just nodded.


Back in Tokyo-3, Shinji finally decided to stop stirring at the blank ceiling and get up from his hospital bed. While he was walking throughout the NERV medical ward he noticed a news broadcast was playing on the TV in the waiting room.

"And now for the news at noon." Started the reporter. "Our top story is on yesterday's massive wave of explosions throughout Tokyo-3." Shinji started to walk back to his hospital room.

'Weird, they've haven't said a word about the Eva or the Angel.' Shinji looked at his right arm that he thought was damaged. 'Was it all a dream? Did I really get into the EVA and fight the Angel?' He was broken from his thoughts as a medical team wheeled the injured girl from before past him. Just like before she was all bandaged up except her left eye and starred at him blankly with her crimson red eye.

The gurney soon stopped as Commander Ikari starred at the girl with actual emotion. He looked back up at Shinji and glared daggers at him. The boy couldn't look at his father for long and just turned the other cheek. Gendo slightly smirked and walked away as the medics took her to the operation room.

Shinji sighed and didn't notice the female Captain walk up behind him.

"Such a cold old man." she said sadly.

Shinji turned around to see the purple haired women. "Misato, what are you doing here?"

"I came to pick you up." Her tone of voice quickly changed. "I heard you were feeling better so I came to take you to your place."

"Um, okay." Shinji said.

Misato smiled "HQ's taking care of you so you get your own privet apartment." She frowned when Shinji put his head down. "Sure."

"You know if you submit a pension you can arrange to live with you dad."

That idea was quickly shot down at Shinji's next response. "That's alright, I'm okay being alone and besides I don't think my father wants me around."

Now let it be known that the boy was right about his father not wanting him around, but the only reason why he felt it was best to be alone was because there was nobody in his life. He had nobody to open up too, just a coldhearted teacher Gendo sent him to at the age of four. But he also felt alone because of his mutant powers. Shinji knew that most of the world feared mutants and he knew his father would be the same way.

'It's better if I just isolated myself completely.' He thought.

"Hey cheer up." Misato tried to lighten up the mood. "I know…you can stay with me at my place."

Before Shinji could protest Misato pulled out her cell phone and dialed a number. "Hey Ritsuko, it's me. Look can you do me a favor and get me one of the housing forms."

Ritsuko on the other end of the line questioned her. "Why?"

"Cause Shinji here is going to be live with me."

"What's with the on the spot decision?"

"Hey don't worry I'm not so desperate that I'd jump the poor kid."

"Misato that's not funny!"

"Just get me the forms Rits and I'll deal with it later." Misato hung up the phone not letting her friend get in another word. She then grabbed Shinji by the collar. "Come on, we're getting out of here."

"W-wait what are…?" Shinji started protesting but Misato cut him off. "Relax we're just going to take a nice ride."

Within minutes they we're outside the hospital and in Misato's Renault Alpine speeding down the road. "Tonight we're gonna party!"


Meanwhile once Ritsuko got off the phone with Misato she simply sighed. 'May God help him.' She didn't notice Gendo walk into her office.

"Dr. Akagi did you find anything of interest in the boy?" the Commander asked coldly.

"No Sir." She started. "He doesn't seem to exhibit any mutant ability." She lied hoping he would believe it.

Gendo glared at her. "Are you certain of this? What about that strange electric energy that surrounded the EVA?"

"It must have been the result of the EVA going berserk. It was the reason why the EVA was still going after the power ran out." She responded.

He stared her down for a few minutes before finally speaking again. "Fine, but keep examining the boy's blood. If he is a mutant I want to know immediately." He then turned on his heels and left the doctor.

She waited a few moments and sighed in relief. 'That was close.'

{I'll say.} Said a voice inside Ritsuko's mind. She didn't freak out because she knew who it was reading her mind.

'Sub Commander.'

{There's no need to be so formal. But anyway down to businesses, did Gendo believe you?}

'Yes he did, but he was skeptical at best. He probably won't rest until he knows his son's a mutant.'

{We can't afford that to happen, if Gendo finds out then we lose.}

'I agree, but it's not like Gendo doesn't have other means of getting what he wants.'

{True. Knowing him he'll use Rei or the Second Child to extract the information from the boy.}

'Well for now we can only hope Shinji doesn't do anything to expose himself.'

{I have no idea how long that'll last, I heard he's living with the Captain.}


Berlin, Germany:

Deep inside the Germany branch of NERV a girl laid inside of a specially made cell. It was covered in padding, had only a bed and 3 inch thick one way looking bulletproof glass in the front. The girl was about the age of 14, had long red hair, sky blue eyes and was wearing a medical gown while sitting in the corner of her cell.

Soon three men were approaching the cell. One man was a guard escorting the other two, while another man carried a tray of pills. The third man stood out the most because he normally didn't belong down there. He was muscular but was of average height, had his hair tied in a ponytail and had an unshaven beard. He came to a stop as the guard unlocked the steel door to the girl's cell. Then the man with the pills walked over to the girl. "Time to take your medicine Asuka."

The girl named Asuka didn't even look up at the man. "Piss off."

He kneeled down to the girl and grabbed her by her hair. "Take your medicine." He forced her to take the pills and watched her slowly drift off to sleep. When he went leave the cell he looked at the ponytailed man. "I don't why you came down here Kaji. She'll be knocked out for the next few hours."

The man known as Kaji looked at the medic. "Hey, it doesn't hurt to try and besides I can always leave the information here for her to read later."

The medic shrugged his shoulders and left.

When the guard closed the door after the medic left Asuka opened her eyes and spit out the pills. As they fell in a fiery heap and burnt out quickly she sighed. "That's the best I could with my powers being naturalized liked this."

"Asuka you dug your own grave a long time ago." Kaji simply said.

"Whatever, I mean it's not like you helped cause this Kaji…or should I say Wolf-Man."

Kaji blanched at the name before regaining himself. "Heh, since we're in such a good mood do you mind if I call you by your preferred name, Hotstreak?"

"Fine." She looked at him. "So why are you here anyway?"

He handed her a folder. "The Third Angel attacked Tokyo-3 yesterday."

"So?"

"So guess who defeated it?"

"The First Child."

"Nope, the Third Child."

"The Third Child…when did he show up?" Asuka looked at Shinji's profile picture.

"Yesterday."

"Yesterday? Mein Gott, has he had any training?"

Kaji shock his head. "Just about five minutes."

"F-five minutes? Gott in Himmle!" she looked at one of the pictures showing the Angel self-destructing trying to take Unit-01 with it. "Wait…it says here the kid blacked out during the battle and the EVA went berserk. He really didn't do anything. Heh that's weak, I can do better than that and I've been training all my life."

Kaji raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so you're still willing to pilot the EVA for NERV?"

"I don't know, there's nothing in it for me so why should I?"

"That's why I'm here, I managed to work out a deal with the Commander."

"Go on." Asuka prompted.

"If you pilot the EVA you get your freedom in return. No more pills, examinations and most importantly no more cramped little cell."

Asuka thought for a moment. "What's the catch?"

"I've taught you well." Kaji smiled knowing that Asuka picked up a few things while they were secretly working for the B.P.R.D. "Two things." Kaji held up his fingers. "First thing, when we send you to Japan you'll be registered as a known mutant in the NERV database, everybody will know and heavily armed guards will follow you. Second, if you use your powers and you get caught NERV will lock you back up."

"So much for freedom." Asuka snorted.

"Did you really except NERV to let you run around with level 4 powers?"

"I could say the same for you Kaji." Asuka retorted.

"Asuka we've talked about this. Unlike you I can be killed and easily replaced if they ever found out."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." She waved her hand dismissively at the man.

Kaji sighed. "See Asuka, with that attitude the Commander was reluctant to allow this. For once can you listen to me and do as you're told?"

"Fine, for you Kaji." She slightly smiled at him. "So when do I get out of this Hellhole?"

"We leave in a month and a half." Kaji said smugly waiting for Asuka's outburst.

"What? I'm stuck here for another month and half why?" she shrieked.

"Well after your last tantrum inside the EVA you melted the controls. They won't be operational for that long."

She laughed. "Whatever, if those technicians knew what they were doing they would have added fire proof controls a long time ago."

Kaji shook his head while getting up to leave. "I'm leaving now." While he waited for the guard to unlock the door he said one final thing to the teen. "Don't do anything stupid for the next month and take your medicine. We give it to you for a reason."

Asuka flipped her middle finger at Kaji before he left.

'That never gets old.' He thought. 'Asuka when will you learn?' he walked away as he knew it was going to be a rough month for him.


Meanwhile in Tokyo-3 Misato was driving Shinji somewhere.

"Where are we going?" Shinji asked while he was trying to control his heart rate from Misato F1 racing.

She smiled at him while turning onto the roadside. "There's something I want to show you before we go home."

They got out of the car and walked up a hill before stumbling onto a railway.

Shinji looked over the railing and realized they were on the outskirts of the city. "Why are we here?"

She walked over to the boy and looked over the horizon. "It's almost time."

Before Shinji could question her he noticed something down below. There were mechanical clicks and other noises being made before buildings started coming out of the ground. It was an amazing spectacle as Shinji couldn't believe his eyes. "Whoa." Was all he was able to get out.

When all the tall skyscrapers and buildings arose the sun could be seen setting in the distance. Misato then spoke up. "See Shinji, this is our city the city you protected."

He sighed and just continued looking at the sunset. "I-I wasn't that heroic Misato. I didn't fight the Angel to protect that girl or save the city, I did it just for my father's approval."

Misato looked at him thinking of a way to cheer him up. 'Poor kid, he just wants his father to be proud of him. Too bad that'll never happen if what Ritsuko told me was right about him being a mutant.'


Later That Night:

Once Misato got Shinji to calm down and they made a quick trip to the supermarket they finally arrived at her apartment.

"I just moved here myself, so it's a little messy," Misato said, leading Shinji into her apartment.

"This…is a little messy?" Shinji asked looking around the apartment that was covered with empty beer cans and trash. He glanced around and until he saw two refrigerators in the cluttered kitchen, "What's with two fridges?"

"Oh don't mind the big one, he's probably still asleep," Misato said hopping over a large pile of trash, "I'm gonna change, be right back."

"You mind if I straighten the place up a bit?" Shinji asked as she entered her bedroom.

"Sure, knock yourself out!" Misato called from behind the closed door.

Shinji sighed and thought to himself. 'Using these powers once couldn't hurt.' He then placed out his hands and the electric energy appeared. He magnetized the piles of beer cans and moved them over into a trash bag. He did the same with the other trash around the apartment until it was finally clean. What he didn't know was that Misato was watching from her bedroom to make sure her friend was right about him.

After a few moments, Misato stepped back out in a lose tank top and incredibly short shorts trying to act surprised. 'He'll tell me when he's ready.' She thought wanting to respect his privacy. "Wow Shinji I'm impressed. How'd you do that so fast?"

"Uhhh…ancient Chinese secret?" He said giving the older woman a lopsided smile.

Misato raised an eye brow. "I'm gonna be keeping an eye on you, kid," She stated with a smirk. "Now let's get some grub!"

Misato prepared the best meal she could, but once again disappointed herself. She really needed some cooking lessons she though while sitting at her end of the table. She poked at her food, dreading looking up to find Shinji dying of food poisoning. That wasn't the case as he was looking questionably at it as well.

"What is this?" he asked.

"It's curry and raman." She responded as she saw Shinji frowning at finding out what it really was. "Hey you may be a pretty face Shinji but you shouldn't complain over what I made for dinner."

Shinji glanced down blushing furiously. "You're cute when you blush, Shinji-kun," Misato cooed, before standing up, "It's late, you should go take a shower then hit the sack. You start school tomorrow and you're going to have to get up early so I can drop you off on my way to work."

Shinji nodded and walked into the bathroom, quickly undressed and climbed into the shower. He blanched at the shock he felt at first when he touched the water. 'Every time…huh stupid electric powers.' Once finally adjusted he relaxed as the warm water washed over his sore muscles. "Is this what it's like to be home?" he asked out loud not expecting an answer. He was in such deep thought that he didn't hear the door open and close. He then jumped out of the shower as his eyes were locked on a strange penguin with red feathered eyebrows. Shinji then let out a scream as he ran out to where Misato was.

"MISATO! THERE'S A…A PENGUIN IN THE BATHROOM!" He cried out at the stunned woman caught in mid sip of her Yebisu beer.

"Oh, that's just Pen-Pen, my other roommate," Misato said as her eyes traveled down his body. "He's one of those warm water penguins." Misato then slightly laughed. "Uh…Shinji you might wanna cover up."

He raised an eyebrow before realizing what Misato was talking about. His whole body turned red before covering himself and dashing toward his room marked 'Shinji's Lovely Suite' screaming.

Misato took another sip of her beer. 'Poor kid.'


The Next Morning:

Shinji was in the kitchen making a nice breakfast for Misato to say sorry for the free show he gave her the night before. Shinji was slightly smiling at the sound of low moans and grunts as Misato limped into the kitchen. She had one strap of her tank top sliding down her arm and her hair sticking up all over the place making her look like a zombie.

"Misato, you ok?" Shinji asked unsurely only to received what sounded like a growl in response.

Misato drug her feet to the refrigerator and fumbled with the door finally opening it. She reached around before pulling out a can of beer. With a low groan she opened it and chugged it down with one gulp. She then shook her head rapidly and called out enthusiastically "YEAH! NOW THAT'S THE STUFF WHOO HOO!"

Shinji watched in awe as Misato seemingly transformed right before her eyes from zombie to the hyper woman he was with yesterday.

"Good morning, Shinji-kun, oh you made breakfast!" she asked moving over to stand beside him, "You didn't have to, you know? I could have whipped us up something!"

"That's alright Misato, I enjoy cooking so it wasn't any trouble." Shinji said while moving the two plates to the table before turning back to Misato who was opening another can of beer and then sitting it beside a small platter of leftovers on the floor. "You give…your penguin beer?"

"Why not, he's never complained!" Misato laughed, sitting down at the table with her now third beer of the morning. Misato bit into her breakfast and her eyes lit up. "Shinji, if you weren't so much younger than me, I'd marry you! You kick ass in the EVA and you can cook and clean amazingly. You're gonna make a sweet girl spoiled one of these days!" the woman chuckled as Shinji's face colored bright red. "Look at the time Shinji, I've got to get you to school!" Misato said, jumping to her feet. "Let's go."

"Misato, should you really be driving after all that…um…" Shinji asked unsurely looking at the ten empty beer cans around Misato's plate.

"Nonsense kid! Trust me," Misato said winking at him and walking toward the door.

Shinji scratched the back of his head. "Um…Misato shouldn't you be wearing your uniform?"

She looked down at herself and then laughed. "Oh right, just give me a minute."


Tokyo-3 Municipal Junior High School:

In class 2-A Shinji waited to be introduced by the teacher. Once he was he sat down at an empty desk in the middle of the classroom. He didn't notice two boys in the back were glaring at him, one with sandy blond hair and glasses and the other wearing a tracksuit instead of a school uniform.

"You see that new kid Toji?" Kensuke Aida asked his friend.

"Yea, what about him?" Toji Suzuhara replied to his glasses wearing friend.

"Rumor is he's the pilot of that giant robot." Kensuke replied, sliding back when Toji's gaze went murderous.

"That…thing was what put my little sister in the hospital!" Toji hissed, ignoring the teacher's lecture on Second Impact.

"Wait don't jump the gun yet, you don't want to hurt the kid before you make sure he's the one." Kensuke said quickly before typing on his laptop. "Let me message him and ask before you go and knock his brain out or worst."

Shinji sat dully listening to the old man repeat himself over and over again, and then took a moment to look at Rei who was all bandaged up. Then a blip on his computer grabbed his attention. He stared at it for several moments before finally opening the message.

:

Hey are you the pilot of the robot?

Shinji stared at it for a few moments before trying to concentrate on the teacher again, when another message popped up.

:

Are you the pilot? Y/N?

Shinji finally let out a sigh and typed back a response.

ShinjiIkarigmaildotcomdotjp:

Yes.

"WHAT!" The whole room exploded with the exception of the injured Rei and the seething Toji. Everybody mobbed around Shinji and started to ask him questions while a brunet pigtailed girl tried to settle down the class.

Toji stood up from his desk grabbing Shinji's attention. "I'll get you after class, Pilot!" he hissed, narrowing his eyes on the boy.


As soon as the bell rang signaling class was over Toji and Kensuke waited outside for Shinji. When he arrived Toji glared at him. "Hey new kid, cause of you and that stupid robot my sister got hurt, bad. Worst is that she's still in the hospital and she might not be able to walk again because of you!"

"Sorry." Was all he said while being taken back by the fact that he hurt somebody.

"Sorry?" Toji was now even more pissed off. He grabbed Shinji by his collar while Kensuke was trying to hold him back. "Sorry ain't gonna cut it!"

"Toji knock it off." Kensuke said trying to calm his friend.

Shinji looked away. "It's not like I wanted to pilot the stupid thing anyway."

That was the last straw as Toji punched Shinji square in the face and made him fall to the ground.

"Dude, what you that for? You can't go around decking the pilot!" Kensuke shouted.

Toji picked up Shinji and smirked wildly at his friend. "I can do a lot worst." All of a sudden light energy appeared around Toji's left arm as it turned into a light reddish razor sharp blade.

Shinji paled as he saw the boy's hand transform into a weapon. "Y-you're a…"

"A mutant?" Toji finished for the boy. "That's right and it looks like you picked the wrong one to mess with."

Shinji was struggling in Toji's grasp for a while before gripping his arm and shocking it.

Toji dropped him and his arm turned back to normal. "What the Hell was that? What you do kid?"

Shinji scooted away from Toji not knowing how to answer him. He was lucky that before he could attack again the class representative showed up.

"Suzuhara, Aida what are you two doing!" yelled the class rep. Hikari Horaki.

Kensuke blanched at hearing his name. "I told you we'd get in trouble, let's get outta here."

Toji huffed. "Fine, but next time I see ya kid I'm gonna kick your ass!" he then ran off with his friend and Hikari was running after them.

Shinji laid on the ground for a while. 'This sucks, it's not like I meant to cause any of this.' He then looked up to realize Rei was still in the class staring at him but he didn't know someone else was too.

From the shadows of the school building a purplish black colored man appeared. He had soulless white eyes and the only thing that stood out on his body was the sleeveless grey jacket he wore. "Interesting." Was the only thing he said while looking at Toji from afar.


Author's Note: I'm glad to see that there are people out there enjoying my fan fiction so far and I'm also glad people figured out who Shinji was going to be. Now try to figure out who the rest are or who they should be, I wanna know out of curiosity! Until next time and don't forget to review!

Update 4/21: I'm in a ruth right now, should I say with the original plot of NGE with the original characters (Shinji, Misato, Asuka) or the new rebuild one with the addition of new characters (Mari and my addition of Mana from the girlfriend of steel game)? Leave me a comment telling what you think.

-eastWOLF